Retrievable plugs and packers for deep wells



June 1, 1965 w. w. FARRAR ETAL 3,186,489

RETRIEVABLE PLUGS AND PACKERS FOR DEEP WELLS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June26, 1962 IN VEN TORS.

I I I l/flfllllfllf/flllllllf RETRIEVABLE PLUGS AND PACKERS FOR DEEPWELLS Filed June 26. 1962 W. W. FARRAR ETAL June 1, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet2 WILLIE 1v. ram mum! 1?, W15

IN VEN TORS.

United States Patent 3,186,489 REVABLE PLUGS AND PACKERS F0 DEEP WELLSWillie W. Farrar and William R. Lewis, Wichita Falls, Tex assignors toTotem Oil Tools, Inc., Wichita Falls, Tex., a corporation of Texas FiledJune 26, 1962, Ser. No. 205,301 3 Claims. (Cl. 166-138) This inventionrelates to improvements in retrievable plugs and packers for deep wellsand more particularly to packers and plugs which can be run into thewell on tubing or rods and set at any desired depth within the length ofthe casing, without having an anchor member to engage the bottom of thewell to cause the setting thereof.

Various packers and plugs have been proposed heretofore but these, forthe most part, had anchors or an extension on the lower end thereof toengage the bottom of the well, while others had friction memebrs or dragsprings to enable the setting of the packer anywhere within the lengthof the casing. Many of these devices were not load bearing to the extentthat they would support a string of tubing or the like thereabove, andothers were of a character which did not. perm-it the draining of thefluid above the packer when it was desired to remove the packer from thewell.

The present invention embodies a packer which can be run into the casingof a cased well to cause the slips of the packer or plug to engage thecasing at any desired level within the well and then, by furthermanipulation of the tool, the packer element may be sealed in fluidtight relation with respect to the tubing and casing, thereby preventingthe intermixing of the fluids above and below the packer, yet enablingthe release of the fluid above the packer prior to disengaging the slipswhen the packer or plug is to be removed from the well.

An object of this invention is to provide a packer or plug for wellcasing which will expand to provide a seal between the casing and thetubing to prevent passage of fluid into the annulus formed between theouter diameter of the tubing and the inner diameter of the casing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a packer or plug for awell casing which is easy to set and easy to retrieve without having todrill up the packer or plug, should the operator desire to remove thepacker or plug from the casing to enable the serving of the well at apoint below the packer.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a packer or plugwhich is simple in construction, easy to operate, and which may bereadily removed from a well by simple manipulations.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings in which like reference characters designate like parts in theseveral views thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a well, showing thepacker or plug in elevation within the well, with the slips being out ofengagement with the well casing;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but with a quarter section of thepacker or plug within the well casing being cut away;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1', but showing the slips in engagedposition within the well casing, and showing an elastomer packer elementin expanded condition against the inner Wall of the casing to form aseal between the casing and the tubing;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2,looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

3,185,489 Patented June 1, 1965 FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional viewtaken on the line 55 of FIG. 2, looking in the direction indicated bythe arrows;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 66 of FIG. 2,looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 2,looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the inverted J-slots and pinin position to maintain the slips in retracted position and the packerelement in unexpanded condition while going into the well casing orcoming out of the well casing;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 but showing the inverted J-slots andcomplementary members as they appear when the slips are in engagementwith the well casing and when the packer is in sealing relation betweenthe tubing and the casing; and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged, fragmentary elevational view of a guide slot andpin within the packer sleeve to maintain the two outer sleeves againstrelative rotation with respect to each other.

With more detailed reference to the drawing, the numeral 1 designatesgenerally a well casing having a casing pump therein, which isdesignated generally by the numeral 3. The lower end of casing pump 3 isconnected by a coupling 5 to the upper end of a retrievable packer orbridge plug designated generally at 4. The lower end of the packer orbridge plug 4 has a tubing 2 extending downward therefrom to a pointbelow the level of the fluid to be pumped.

The casing pump 3 has a pump rod 3a therein, which rod has a plunger andvalve assembly 3b on the lower end thereof. The cylinder of the pump 3is threaded at the top and has a cap 30 thereon, which cap hasdownwardly extending jaws 3d, which jaws are adapted to complementallyengage jaws 3e on the upper end of plunger 3b, when the plunger 3b is atthe uppermost point of travel within the cylinder of the pump 3. Thecoupling 5 has a conventional standing or check valve positioned thereinin a manner well known in the art of pumps. The jaws 3d and the jaws 3eare interengageable to perform certain functions in setting and removingthe packer from the well, as will be more fully brought out hereinafter.

The packer 4 has an inner tubular member 6 which is screw threaded, asindicated at S and 10, at the upper end and lower end thereof,respectively. A coupling 11 connects the lower end of the tubular member6 to the upper end of the tubing 2 which is positioned below the packer4. The upper end of the tubular member 6 has drain holes 12 formedtherein, as will best be seen in FIGS. 2 and 4.

A first sleeve 14, which has an inverted J-slot 16 formed in a sidethereof, surrounds tubular member 6 on the lower end thereof in slidingrelation therewith, as will best be seen in FIG. 3. A second sleeve 26,which has an inverted J-slot 28 formed in a side thereof, surroundsfirst sleeve 14. The J-slot 28 is complementary to the I-slot 16, formedin the tubular sleeve 14, when the sleeves are in one position. Thesecond sleeve 26 has a longitudinal slot 65 formed in a side thereof,which second sleeve 26 is fitted on the first sleeve 14. A pin 64 isscrewthreaded into the first sleeve 14 and projects into longitudinalslot 66 in second sleeve 26 so as to permit limited relative,longitudinal, sliding movement of the first sleeve 14 and second sleeve26. The sleeves 14 and 26 are free to move through a limited arcuatemovement about the axis of tubular member 6 when the respective I-slots16 and 28 are in register and are laterally aligned with pin 24 as shownin positions as indicated in dashed outline at a and b, as indicated inFIG. 8, and are free to slide longitudinally when the pin 24 is inaligned relation with longitudinal portions 18 and 3% of the respectiveJ-slots 16 and 18.

A tubular spacer member 13 is slid over tubular member 6 so as to bepositioned intermediate lower ends of first and second sleeves 14 and 26and the upper end of coupling 11. When going into or coming out of thecasing ll of a well, the first tubular sleeve 14 and the second tubularsleeve 26 are supported on tubular spacer member 13, when the pin 24 iswithin lateral portions 20 and 32 of the respective inverted J-slots 16and 28, as shown at a and b in FIG. 8, so that the slotted portions 26and 32 of inverted J-slots 16 and 28 respectively will be aligned withpin 24 so that the first tubular sleeve 14 and the second tubular sleeve26 may be moved arcuately, as is best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 8. Withthe pin 24 screw threaded into tubular member 6, the lateral portions 26and 32 of the respective inverted J-slots will receive the pin 24thereinto in guided relation. The pin 24 in tubular member 6 willprevent relative longitudinal movement between the tubular member 6 andthe first and second tubular sleeves 14 and 26, until it is desired torelease the mechanism, whereupon, by aligning the pin 24 and the tubularmember 6 with longitudinal slots 18 and 30 in the first and secondsleeves 14 and 26, respectively, the sleeves 14 and 26 will be releasedfor longitudinal sliding movement with respect to tubular member 6,whereupon, as tubular member 6 moves downward, the drag springs 36 willretard the movement of second sleeve 26 on which toothed slips 72 areresiliently mounted, thereby causing the toothed slips to be heldrelative to casing 1 by the downward movement of the conical face ofmember 42, which will urge the toothed slips 72 outward into engagementwith the inner diameter of easing 1, which will arrest and supporttubular sleeve 26 therein. The coupling 11 will support the tubularspacer member 13 thereon which in turn will support first sleeve 14.When the packer is seated in the well casing, the tubular member 6 willbe moved downward relative to first sleeve 14 to a position as shown inFIG. 3, and it will so remain as long as the packer is seated in thewell casing. However, upon upward movement of the tubular member 6,preparatory to removing the packer from the well, the upper end oftubular spacer member 13 will engage the lower end of first sleeve 14 toenable the pull to be transmitted from the threaded member 56 directlyto the tubular member 6, thereby relieving the pins 24 and 64 of strainand the possibility of shearing these pins if an excessive pull isnecessary to remove the packer from the Well.

A slot, designated generally at 16, is formed in sleeve 14 and is of theshape of an inverted I, with the elongated straight portion 16, thelateral portion 24) and a recessed lock portion 22. The tubular member 6has a pin 24 screwthreaded thereinto, which pin 24 extends acrosstubular member 6 and out through inverted J-slot 16, in first sleeve 14and is in sliding relation within slot 16.

A second sleeve 26 has an inverted J-slot, designated generally by thenumeral 28, formed therein, which is similar in shape to J-slot 16, andis adapted to be in complementary relation with I-slot 16 when saidsleeves are in one position with respect to each other. The .T-slot 28has an elongated portion 30, a lateral portion 32 and a recessed lockingportion 34. The pin 24 extends through sleeves 26 and 14 and through thewall of tubular member 6, thence transversely across tubular member 6 tothreadably engage the opposite wall of the tubular member 6 but does notextend outwardly therefrom, as will best be seen in FIGS. 2 and 6, so asto enable the first sleeve 14 to be received by the tubular member 6 forlimited, longitudinal sliding movement with respect thereto, and forlimited rotational movement with respect to tubular member 6. The secondsleeve 26 is mounted on first sleeve 14 in sliding relation with respectthereto and is connected with toothed slips 72 to engage the inner wallof casing 1 upon relative movement between the first sleeve 14 and thesecond sleeve 26.

When the J-slots 16 and 28 are in the position as shown in FIG. 8, theoutwardly extending pin 24 extends from tubular member 6 outwardtherethrough and is in register with the slots 16 and 28, the purpose ofwhich will be more fully explained hereinafter.

The sleeve 26 has resiliently pressed members 36 secured thereto atspaced intervals therearound by screws 38, which resilient members, inthe present instance, are shown to be resilient leaf type springs whichare curved inwardly toward each end from the point which is in contactrelation with the well casing. There are preferably three of theseresilient members secured to sleeve 26 so as to provide proper frictionand to centralize the packer within the casing 1, the purpose of whichdrag springs will be more fully brought out hereinafter.

The sleeve 14 has screw threads 40 on the end thereof, which threadscomplementally engage internal screw threads in the lower end of theaxial opening in slip cone 42; the slip cone 42 is also internally screwthreaded at the upper end to threadably receive a packer locking sleeve44 which is externally screw threaded at the lower end thereof and hasan outturned flange 46 at the upper end thereof to engage the metal ring48 which is bonded to the elastomer packer element 50. Follower cup 52surrounds packer locking sleeve 44 and is adapted to receive the lowerend of elastomer packer element 51) therein, to which the metallic ring48 is bonded, and is complementally contoured to retain the lower end ofthe packer element therein.

A packer expanding cone 54 is screw threaded to complementally engagethe screw threaded end 8 of tubular member 6 and is positioned so, whenthe tubular member 6 is in one position with respect to sleeve 14 andpacker locking sleeve 44, the packer engaging cone 54 will be a spaceddistance away from elastomer packer element 50, which will place thedrain holes 12 in tubular member 6 in communication with the casing 1above the packer 4 to drain the fluid to a point therebelow. The upperend of the packer expanding cone 54 is screw threaded, as indicated at56, to threadably receive the pipe coupling 5 to couple the casing pump3 with the packer. The casing expanding cone 54 has an opening 6%)formed therethrough so as to form a continuous conduit from casing pump3 to tubular member 6 and thence to tubing 2 below the packer 4.

The packer locking sleeve 44, with the outturned flange 46 thereon,serves to hold the elastomer packer element 50 and the packer followercup' 52 in binding relation with the upper face of the slip expandingcone 42. Transverse slots 62 are formed in the upper face of outturnedflange 46 to enable a special spanner wrench to fit thereinto to enablethe assembly and disassembly of elastomer packer element 50 onto theupper end of the packer 4.

The first sleeve 14 and the second sleeve 26 are held against relativerotational movement by a screw threaded pin 64 which passes through aslot 66 in the second sleeve 26 and is screw threaded into a hole in thefirst sleeve 14, as will best be seen in FIGS. 2, 7, and 10*.

The screw threaded pin 64 permits limited longitudinal sliding movementbetween first sleeve 14 and second sleeve 26 so as to maintain l-slots16 and 28 in position to be in register when the pin 64 is moved to theuppermost point of travel, however, the pin 64 does not extend intobinding relation with tubular member 6, therefore, sleeve 14 is freelyslidable longitudinally with respect to tubular member 6.

The second sleeve 26 also has resilient slip arms 68 secured theretowhich are spaced circumferentially therearound, and are in spaced,circumferential relation to resiliently pressed members 36. The sliparms 68 are secured'to the second or outer sleeve 26 by screws 70, whicharms extend upward and have casing engaging slips 72 secured thereon,which slips 72 have teeth 74 on the respective arcuate peripheral sidesthereof, with a tapered surface 76 on each inner face, which taperedsurfaces 76 are adapted to engage the taper on slip expanding cone 42 tourge the slips 72 outward from the position as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and5, to that shown in FIG. 3 to engage the inner wall of easing 1.

' Operation The present packer or bridge plug 4 can be used on the lowerend of a casing pump 3, which casing pump is lowered into the Well on anelongated support member, such as a string of pump rods 3a.

To set the packer 4 within the well casing 1, at a predeterminedelevation above the bottom thereof, and without an anchor pipe extendingto and being in contact with the bottom of the well, a length of tubing2, if desired, may be secured to coupling 11 on the lower end of innertubular member 6 and with the casing pump 3 having the coupling 5thereof threadably engaging the threads 56 of packer expander cone 54,and With the pump rods 3a extending through cap 30 of easing pump 3 andbeing connected with plunger 3b therein, the packer 4 is ready to belowered into the well. Upon lowering the casing pump 3 downward intocasing 1, the jaws 3e on the upper end of plunger 3b will move intoengagement with jaws Ed on the lower side of cap 30 to lock the plunger3b against relative rotation with respect to cap 30, thereby enablingthe casing pump 3 and the inner tubular member 6 of packer 4 to berotated a limited amount.

When the packer 4 is lowered into the casing to the desired depth withinthe well, and with the pin 24 being in the position as indicated at a inFIG. 8, the pump rods 3a are rotated counter-clockwise until tubularmember 6 rotates pin 24 from the position as shown at a to the positionas shown at b therein, and since the drag springs 36, which aresecured'to outer sleeve 26, are in frictional engagement with the outerwalls of easing 1, which outer sleeve. 26, as well as sleeve 14 will bemaintained against rotation, and since sleeves 14 and 25 are maintainedagainst relative rotation by outwardly extending screw 64, which screwis threaded into sleeve 14 and extends out through slot 66 in sleeve 26,these sleeves are free to slide longitudinally relative to each other.

With the sleeves 26 and 14 in the relation as shown in FIG. 8, and withthe pin '24 in the position as indicated at b, the rods 3a are lowered,whereupon, the inner tubular member 6 and pin 24 will move downward fromthe position as shown at b, FIG. 8, within slots 18 and 30 in therespective sleeves 14 and 26, to the position indicated at c in FIG. 9,and with the resilient spring members 36 maintaining sleeves 14 and 26against downward movement, the taper of slip engaging cone 42 will moveinto engagement with the tapered surfaces 76 of slips 72 which will urgethese outward from the position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to theposition as shown in FIG. 3, which will prevent further downwardmovement of sleeves 14 and 26. Whereupon, the rods 3a, casing pump 3,and packer expander cone 54 and inner tubular member 6 are lowereddownward in sliding relation within sleeve 14, whereupon, the taperedsurface of cone 54 will come into wedging engagement with the interiorof elastomer packer element 50 which will urge the lips of packerelement 50 outward into sealing relation with the wall at casing 1. Inthis manner, the weight of easing pump 3, packer 4 and tubing 2 issupported in fixed relation within the casing 1 without the necessity ofan anchor pipe extending to the bottom of the well.

The plunger 3b of the casing pump 3 may then be lowered into the casingpump 3 and the rod 3a connected to a suitable actuating element (notshown) at the top of the well, to actuate the plunger 31') within thecasing pump 3 to pump liquid from a point below the packer 4 upwardtherethrough and out through holes 3 in cap 30 into the casing 1 aboveelastomer packer sealing element 56, and as the casing 1 fills withliquid, the slips 72 prevent the movement of packer 4 downward,whereupon, when the casing 1 is filled with liquid,

it will be pumped out at the upper end thereof in a manner wellunderstood in the art of easing pumps.

To remove the casing pump 3, packer 4 and tubing 2 from the well, therods 3a are moved upward until jaws 3e and jaws 3d interengage and theplunger 3b is in contact relation with cap 30, whereupon, the rods aremovel upward until packer expander cone 54 disengages fromthe elastomerpacker element 50 which will cause holes 12, within inner tubular member6, to move out of sliding engagement with sleeve 44, which will placethese holes 12 in communication with the fluid above elastomer packerelement 50. This will permit fluid, such as oil, water and the like, topass through holes 12 into inner tubular member 6, thence downward untilthe. inner tubular member and the casing 1, below the packer 4 arefilled with fluid. Upon the filling of the casing 1 with fluid above andbelow the packer 4 the pressure within the casing 1 will becomeequalized, and continued pull on pump rod 3a will move pin 24 from theposition as indicated at c, in full outline in FIG. 9, to the positionas indicated in dashed outline at d, FIG. 9, whereupon, continued upwardmovement of the pump rod 3a will cause the sleeve 14, upon which slipexpander cone 42 is mounted, to be lifted so the tapered portion of slipcone 42 will move out of engagement with the tapered surfaces 76 ofslips 72, and with the friction spring elements 36 maintaining sleeve 26against upward movement during this operation, the continued upwardmovement of the rods 3a will move the pin 24 and the sleeve 26 to theposition indicated at b in dashed outline in FIG. 8, which will causethe release of the slips, so the slips will move into the position asshown in FIG. 2. Whereupon, the pump rods 3a are turned clockwise, whichwill rotate the tubular member 6, sleeve 14 and pin 24 so that the pin24 will move from the position as indicated at b, FIG. 8, to thatindicated at a in dashed outline in FIG. 8. As the pin 24 moves from theposition as indicated at d in FIG. 9 to the position as indicated at bin FIG. 8, pin 64 will move from the lowermost position to theupper-most position, as shown in FIG. 10, and the pin will be inabutting relation with the top of slot 66 Within sleeve 26 upon upwardmovement of rods 3a, pin 24 and pin 64 will be in contact relation withthe upper-most portion of the respective slots.

Upon further upward pull being exerted on pump rod 3a, the pin 24 willmove from the position as indicated at a in FIG. 8 to the position asindicated in full outline therein, within the recessed locking portions22 and 34 of the respective J-slots 16 and 23, as these slots will be inregister when the movements described have been completed. With theslips disengaged, and with the outwardly expanding pressure having beenremoved from elastomer packer element Stl, the rods will be movedupward, which will cause the outer sleeve 26 on packer 4 to be moved inunison with tubular memher 6 and sleeve 14, as well as with the packerelements and tubing 2 until the packer is removed from the well.

7 Having thus clearly shown and described the invention, what is claimedas new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A retrievable bridge plug adapted to be supported on an elongatedsupport member for longitudinal and arcuate movement in the bore hole ofa cased well, which bridge plug comprises:

(a) an inner tubular member adapted to be connected to said elongatedsupport member for longitudinal and arcuate movement therewith uponlongitudinal and arcuate movement of said elongated support member,

(b) a first sleeve fitted on and surrounding said inner tubular memberfor limited sliding relation and being rotatable, within limits, on saidinner tubular memher,

(1) said first sleeve having an inverted J-slot formed therein,

(c) a second sleeve fitted on and surrounding said first sleeve forlimited longitudinal sliding movement relative thereto and for relativearcuate movement therewith about the axis of said inner tubular memberand for relative independent longitudinal movement with respect to saidinner tubular member,

(1) said second sleeve having an inverted J-slot formed therein which iscomplementary to said J-slot in said first sleeve, when said sleeves arein one position,

(2) said second sleeve having a longitudinal slot formed therein,

(d) a pin fixedly secured to said first sleeve and extending into saidlongitudinal slot in said second sleeve to limit the relative slidingmovement between said first and said second sleeves and to permitrelative arcuate movement therebetween,

(e) friction members mounted on said second sleeve exteriorly thereof tofrictionally engage the inner wall of the casing of the cased well toretard movement of said second sleeve relative to said first sleeve whensaid bridge plug is moved longitudinally in the casing of the casedwell,

(f) a slip expander cone mounted on and secured to the upper end of saidfirst sleeve and having a downwardly and inwardly tapered face thereon,

(g) resilient arms mounted on said second sleeve exterior thereof andextending upward therefrom, and being spaced around the periphery ofsaid second sleeve,

(h) a toothed slip member mounted on the upper end 7 and extending outthrough said inverted J-slot in said first sleeve and into said invertedI-slot in said second sleeve to permit relative longitudinal slidingmovement between said first sleeve, mounting said slip expander cone,and said second sleeve, mounting said toothed slip members thereon, whensaid pin is in one position relative to said inverted J-slots in saidfirst and second sleeves,

(1) said pin, secured to said inner tubular member and extending throughsaid inverted J-slots in said first and second sleeves, being adapted toretain said toothed slip members out of engagement with the inner wallof the casing of the cased well, when said pin is in another position insaid inverted J-slots,

( 2) said inner tubular member and said first sleeve being adapted tomove downward relative to said second sleeve, which has said expandercone thereon, when said friction members are in engagement with theinner wall of the casing of the cased Well, so said tapered surfaces ofsaid slip members will be retained against downward movement relative tosaid slip expander cone, so said slip expander cone will engage thetapered face of each said slip member to urge said slip members outwardinto binding engagement with the inner wall of the casing of said casedwell.

(j) an annular elastomer packer element secured to said first sleeveabove said slip expander cone and being movable therewith,

(k) a downwardly and inwardly tapered packer expander cone mounted onthe upper end of said inner tubular member and being movable therewithto engage said elastomer packer element when said packer expander coneis in one position,

(1) said packer expander cone, mounted on said inner tubular member,being adapted to move into engagement with said elastorner packerelement, upon downward movement of said elongated support member, so asto form a seal between said inner tubular member and the inner wall ofthe casing of the cased well.

2. A retrievable bridge plug adapted to be supported on an elongatedsupport member for longitudinal and arcuate movement in the bore hole ofa cased well, which bridge plug comprises;

(a) an inner tubular member adapted to be connected to said elongatedsupport member for longitudinal and arcuate movement therewith uponlongitudinal and arcuate movement of said elongated support member,

(3) said inner tubular member having a transverse hole formedtherethrough, a portion of which hole is screwthreaded,

(b) a first sleeve fitted on and surrounding said inner tubular memberin limited sliding relation and being rotatable, within limits, on saidinner tubular memher,

(1) said first sleeve having an inverted J-slot formed therein, whichinverted J-slot has interconnecting lateral and longitudinal portions.

(0) a second sleeve fitted on and surrounding said first sleeve forlimited sliding movement relative thereto and for relative arcuatemovement therewith about the axis of said inner tubular member and forrelative independent longitudinal movement with respect to said innertubular member,

( 1) said second sleeve having an inverted J-slot formed therein whichis complementary to said inverted J-slot in said first sleeve, when saidsleeves are in one position,

(2) said second sleeve having a longitudinal slot formed therein.

(d) a pin fixedly secured to said first sleeve and extending into saidlongitudinal slot in said second sleeve to limit the relative slidingmovement between said first and said second sleeves and to permitrelative arcuate movement therebetween,

(e) friction members mounted on said second sleeve exteriorly thereof tofrictionally engage the inner Wall of the casing of the cased well toretard movement of said second sleeve relative to said first sleeve whensaid bridge plug is moved longitudinally in the casing of the casedwell,

(f) a slip expander cone mounted on and secured to the upper end of saidfirst sleeve and having a downwardly and inwardly tapered face thereon,

(g) resilient arms mounted on said second sleeve exterior thereof andextending upward therefrom, and being spaced around the periphery ofsaid second sleeve,

(h) a toothed slip member mounted on the upper end of each said arm andhaving an inwardly and downwardly tapered surface on the inner facethereof to complementally engage the tapered surface of said slipexpander cone to move sai d slip members, upon relative movement of saidtapered slip expander cone with respect to said slip members,

(i) a screwthreaded pin extending through said transverse hole in saidinner tubular member and threadably engaging the screwthreaded portionthereof, which pin extends out through said inverted J-slot in saidfirst sleeve and into said inverted I-slot in said second sleeve topermit relative longitudinalsliding movement of said first sleeve,mounting said slip expander cone, and said second sleeve, mounting saidtoothed slip members thereon, when said pin is in aligned relation withthe longitudinal portion of said inverted J-slots in said first andsecond sleeves,

(1) said pin, secured to said inner tubular member and extending throughsaid inverted J-slots in said first and second sleeves, being adapted toretain said toothed slip members out of engagement with the inner wallof the casing of the cased well, when said pin is positioned within thelateral portions of said inverted J-slots in said first and secondsleeves,

(2) said inner tubular member and said first sleeve being adapted tomove downward relative to said second sleeve, when said pin in saidinner tubular member is in aligned relation with said longitudinalportions of said inverted J-slots in said first and second sleeves,

(3) said inner tubular member and said} first sleeve adapted to movedownward when said pin is in alignment with the longitudinal portions ofsaid inverted J-slots to move said slip expander cone on said firstsleeve into engagement with said tapered surfaces of said slip memberswhen said friction members on said second sleeve are in engagement withthe inner wall of the casing of the cased well, so that the taperedsurfaces of said slip members will be moved into engagement with theinner wall of the casing of the cased well to prevent said slip movingdownward upon engagement of said slip expander cone therewith,

(1') an annular elastomer packer element secured to said first sleeveabove said slip expander cone and being movable therewith,

(k) a downwardly and inwardly tapered packer expander cone mounted onthe upper end of said inner tubular member and being movable therewithto engage said elastomer packer element when said packer expander coneis in one position,

(1) said packer expander cone, mounted on said inner tubular member,being adapted to move into engagement with said elastomer packerelement, upon downward movement of said elongated support member, so asto form a seal between said inner tubular member and the inner wall ofthe casing of the cased well.

3. A retrievable bridge plug adapted to be supported on an elongatedsupport member for longitudinal and arcuate movement in the bore hole ofa cased well, which bridge plug comprises;

(a) an inner tubular member adapted to be connected to said elongatedsupport member for longitudinal and arcuate movement therewith uponlongitudinal and arcuate movement of said elongated support member,

(b) a first sleeve slidably fitted on and surrounding said inner tubularmember in limited sliding relation and being rotatable, within limits,on said inner tubular member,

(1) pin means on said inner tubular member,

(2) said first sleeve having an inverted J-slot formed therein, whichslot receives said pin means therein to limit the relative longitudinalsliding and arcuate movement between said inner tubular member and saidfirst sleeve,

(c) a second sleeve slidably fitted on and surrounding said firstsleeve,

(1) said second sleeve having an inverted J-slot formed therein which iscomplementary to the inverted J-slot formed in said first sleeve, whichJ-slot in said second sleeve receives said pin means therein to limitthe longitudinal sliding movement of said second sleeve relative to saidfirst sleeve and for relative arcuate movement therewith about the axisof said inner tubular member for relative independent longitudinalmovement with respect to said inner tubular member,

(2) said pin means on said inner tubular member, which is engageablewith said first sleeve, also being engageable with the inverted J-slotin said second sleeve to limit the relative longitudinal and arcuatemovement between the inner tubular member and said second sleeve,

(d) a further pin means on said first sleeve,

(1) said second sleeve having a longitudinal slot formed therein, whichslot receives said further pin means therein to interconnect said secondsleeve with said first sleeve to permit relative limited longitudinalmovement therebetween and to prevent relative arcuate movementtherebetween,

(e) friction members mounted on said second sleeve exteriorly thereof tofrictionally engage the inner wall of the casing of the cased well toretard movement of said second sleeve relative to said first sleeve whensaid bridge plug is moved longitudinally within said casing of the casedwell,

(f) a slip expander cone mounted on and secured to the upper end of saidfirst sleeve and having a downwardly and inwardly tapered surfacethereon,

(g) resilient arms mounted on said second sleeve exterior thereof andextending upward therefrom, and being spaced around the periphery ofsaid second sleeve,

(h) a toothed slip member mounted on the upper end of each said arm andhaving an inwardly and downwardly tapered surface on the inner facethereof to complementally engage the tapered surface of said slipexpander cone to move said slip members, upon relative movement of saidtapered slip expander cone with respect to said slip members,

(1) said pin means on said inner tubular member and engageable in theinverted J-slots of said first and second sleeves, permitting relativelongitudinal sliding movement of said toothed slip members intoengagement with the inner wall of the casing of the cased well, whensaid pin means is in one position relative to said inverted I-slots,said pin means, mounted on said inner tubular member and engageable inthe inverted J-slots of said first and second sleeves retaininig saidtoothed slip members associated with said second sleeve out ofengagement with the inner wall of the casing of the cased well, whensaid pin means is in another position relative to said inverted J-slots,

(2) said inner tubular member and said first sleeve adapted to movedownward relative to said second sleeve, which first sleeve has saidslip expander cone thereon, when said friction members on said secondsleeve are in engagement with the inner wall of the casing of the casedwell so said tapered surfaces of said slip members will be retainedagainst the downward movement relative to said slip expander cone, sosaid slip expander cone on said first sleeve will engage the taperedface of each said slip member to urge said slip members outward intobinding engagement with the inner wall of the casing of the cased well,

(i) an annular elastomer packer element secured to said first sleeveabove said slip expander cone and being movable therewith,

(j) a downwardly and inwardly tapered packer expander cone mounted onthe upper end of said inner tubular member and being movable therewithto engage said elastomer packer element when said packer expander coneis in one position,

1 1 12 (1 said packer expander cone, mounted on said References Cited byehe Examiner mner tubular member, helng adapted to move UNITED STATESPATENTS 1nto engagement wlth sald elastomer packer element, upondownward movement of said elon- 2,027,783 1/36 Martln 100-138 gatedsupport member, so as toform a seal be- 5 2,496,546 2/50 Lamb 166-138tween the inner tubular member and the inner Wall of the casing of thecased Well. CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Przmary Exammer.

1. A RETRIEVABLE BRIDGE PLUG ADAPTED TO BE SUPPORTED ON AN ELONGATEDSUPPORT MEMBER FOR LONGITUDINAL AND ARCUATE MOVEMENT IN THE BORE HOLE OFA CASED WELL, WHICH BRIDGE PLUG COMPRISES: (A) AN INNER TUBULAR MEMBERADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TO SAID ELONGATED SUPPORT MEMBER FORLONGITUDINAL AND ARCUATE MOVEMENT THEREWITH UPON LONGITUDINAL ANDARCUATE MOVEMENT OF SAID ELONGATED SUPPORT MEMBER, (B) A FIRST SLEEVEFITTED ON SAID SURROUNDING SAID INNER TUBULAR MEMBER FOR LIMITED SLIDINGRELATION AND BEING ROTATABLE, WITHIN LIMITS, ON SAID INNER TUBULARMEMBER, (1) SAID FIRST SLEEVE HAVING AN INVERTED J-SLOT FORMED THEREIN,(C) A SECOND SLEEVE FITTED ON AND SURROUNDING SAID FIRST SLEEVE FORLIMITED LONGITUDINAL SLIDING MOVEMENT RELATIVE THERETO AND FOR RELATIVEARCUATE MOVEMENT THEREWITH ABOUT THE AXIS OF SAID INNER TUBULAR MEMBERAND FOR RELATIVE INDEPENDENT LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO SAIDINNER TUBULAR MEMBER, (1) SAID SECOND SLEEVE HAVING AN INVERTED J-SLOTFORMED THEREIN WHICH IS COMPLEMENTARY TO SAID J-SLOT IN SAID FIRSTSLEEVE, WHEN SAID SLEEVES ARE IN ONE POSITION, (2) SAID SECOND SLEEVEHAVING A LONGITUDINAL SLOT FORMED THEREIN, (D) A PIN FIXEDLY SECURED TOSAID FIRST SLEEVE AND EXTENDING INTO SAID LONGITUDINAL SLOT IN SAIDSECOND SLEEVE TO LIMIT THE RELATIVE SLIDING MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID FIRSTAND THE SAID SECOND SLEEVES AND TO PERMIT RELATIVE ARCUATE MOVEMENTTHEREBETWEEN, (E) FRICTION MEMBERS MOUNTED ON SAID SECOND SLEEVEEXTERIORLY THEREOF TO FRICTIONALLY ENGAGE THE INNER WALL OF THE CASINGOF THE CASED WELL TO RETARD MOVEMENT OF SAID SECOND SLEEVE RELATIVE TOSAID FIRST SLEEVE WHEN SAID BRIDGE PLUG IS MOVED LONGITUDINALLY IN THECASING OF THE CASED WELL, (F) A SLIP EXPANDER CONE MOUNTED ON ANDSECURED TO THE UPPER END OF SAID FIRST SLEEVE AND HAVING A DOWNWARDLYAND INWARDLY TAPERED FACE THEREON, (G) RESILIENT ARMS MOUNTED ON SAIDSECOND SLEEVE EXTERIOR THEREOF AND EXTENDING UPWARD THEREFROM, AND BEINGSPACED AROUND THE PERIPHERY OF SAID SECOND SLEEVE, (H) A TOOTHED SLIPMEMBER MOUNTED ON THE UPPER END OF EACH SAID ARM AND HAVING AN INWARDLYAND DOWNWARDLY TAPERED SURFACE ON THE INNER FACE THEREOF TOCOMPLEMENTALLY ENGAGE THE TAPERED SURFACE OF SAID SLIP EXPANDER CONE TOMOVE SAID SLIP MEMBERS, UPON RELATIVE MOVEMENT OF SAID TAPERED SLIPEXPANDER CONE WITH RESPECT TO SAID SLIP MEMBERS, (I) A PIN FIXEDLYSECURED TO SAID INNER TUBULAR MEMBER AND EXTENDING OUT THROUGH SAIDINVERTED J-SLOT IN SAID FIRST SLEEVE AND INTO SAID INVERTED J-SLOT INSAID SECOND SLEEVE TO PERMIT RELATIVE LONGITUDINAL SLIDING MOVEMENTBETWEEN SAID FIRST SLEEVE, MOUNTING SAID SLIP EXPANDER CONE, AND SAIDSECOND SLEEVE, MOUNTING SAID TOOTHED SLIP MEMBERS THEREON, WHEN SAID PINIS IN ONE POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID INVERTED J-SLOTS IN SAID FIRST ANDSECOND SLEEVES, (1) SAID PIN, SECURED TO SAID INNER TUBULAR MEMBER ANDEXTENDING THROUGH SAID INVERTED J-SLOTS IN SAID FIRST AND SECONDSLEEVES, BEING ADAPTED TO RETAIN SAID TOOTHED SLIP MEMBERS OUT OFENGAGEMENT WITH THE INNER WALL OF THE CASING OF THE CASED WELL, WHENSAID PIN IS IN ANOTHER POSITION IN SAID INVERTED J-SLOTS, (2) SAID INNERTUBULAR MEMBER AND SAID FIRST SLEEVE BEING ADAPTED TO MOVE DOWNWARDRELATIVE TO SAID SECOND SLEEVE, WHICH HAS SAID EXPANDER CONE THEREON,WHEN SAID FRICTION MEMBERS ARE IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE INNER WALL OF THECASING OF THE CASED WELL, SO SAID TAPERED SURFACES OF SAID SLIP MEMBERSWILL BE RETAINED AGAINST DOWNWARD MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID SLIPEXPANDER CONE, SO SAID SLIP EXPANDER CONE WILL ENGAGE THE TAPERED FACEOF EACH SAID SLIP MEMBER TO URGE SAID SLIP MEMBERS OUTWARD INTO BINDINGENGAGEMENT WITH THE INNER WALL OF THE CASING OF SAID CASED WELL. (J) ANANNULAR ELASTOMER PACKER ELEMENT SECURED TO SAID FIRST SLEEVE ABOVE SAIDSLIP EXPANDER CONE AND BEING MOVABLE THEREWITH. (K) A DOWNWARDLY ANDINWARDLY TAPERED PACKER EXPANDER CONE MOUNTED ON THE UPPER END OF SAIDINNER TUBULAR MEMBER AND BEING MOVABLE THEREWITH TO ENGAGE SAIDELASTOMER PACKER ELEMENT WHEN SAID PACKER EXPANDER CONE IS IN ONEPOSITION. (1) SAID PACKER EXPANDER CONE, MOUNTED ON SAID INNER TUBULARMEMBER, BEING ADAPTED TO MOVE INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ELASTOMER PACKERELEMENT, UPON DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID ELONGATED SUPPORT MEMBER, SO ASTO FORM A SEAL BETWEEN SAID INNER TUBULAR MEMBER AND THE INNER WALL OFTHE CASING OF THE CASED WALL.